Manipulating device



June 23, 1959 A. P FEIFFE R MANIPULATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1957 'IIIII INVENTOR fllvpesw Pry/#52 MANIPULATING DEVICE Andrew Pfeiiier, Old Lyme, Conn.

Application December 26,- 1957, Serial No. 705,227

13 Claims. (Cl. 74-507)" The present invention-relates generally to an improved manipulating device, and it relates'more particularly to an improved device for linearly,- longitudinally advanc ing and retracting a tool for accurately" measured distances-in the absence of any significant torque, wobble, backlash or lateral movement.

There are many applications which require the fineand accurate movement of a tool in the absence of any sig: nificant amounts of torque, backlash, wobble or lateral movement. Such requirements are often=met withiin the fields of electrophysiological, cytological and bacteriologicalresearch, as wellias in numerous other fields. Many mechanisms have been proposed for effecting a fine, closely controlled rotation freelinear motion, but these mechanisms. have been either too complex or have failed to provide the'necessarytorque and wobble-free linear, motion in-the absence of backlash}.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention 'to provide an improved-manipulating device.-

Another object of the present invention is-to-provide an improved coupling arrangement.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide an improved coupling. between twolongitudinally aligned movable members in whichthe coupling forceis parallel to. the direction of movement;

A further object of the present inventionis toprovide an improved tool manipulating device for imparting a measured linear motion to the tool inthe absence ofany significant torque, wobble or backlash.

Still a further object of the present invention-is to pro vide an-improved tool manipulatingdevice for imparting a fine, accurately measured, longitudinal motion to the tool in the absence of torque, wobble or backlash, the device being rugged, simple and inexpensive.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of' the following description, taken: in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Figurel is a front elevational view, partially broken away and partially in section, of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2'2"in Figure 1;, l

Figure 3- is a sectional view taken along. line 3-3 in Figure 2; and

Figurer4: is asectional view taken. along line in Figurel. In a s 'ense', thepresent inventionacontemplates the.provision of an improved tool manipulating device capable of fine, accurate adjustment and characterized by the absence of any significant torque, backlash, lateral movement or wobble, the device comprising a body member, a drive spindle having a leading fiat surface; a driven spindle linearly, slidably mounted in said body member and having a trailing flat surface confronting and substantially parallel to said drive spindle leading flat surface; a coupling sphere of magnetic material disposed between said flat surfaces and in substantially point contact United States Patent 2. therewith, at least one of said spindles havingim'eansfor'. establishing a magnetic field through said spindles coupling sphere to maintain said sphere'in contact with saidcon-fronting spindle surfaces.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a pre' ferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 10 generally designates a body member which'includesa' sup-port frame IZ'and a rearwardly directed barrel 1'41- Tlies'uppo-rt frame 12' comprises a trailing, tubular' sec non; 16-" which carries a forwardly projecting, integrally fanned cradle section 18' of" semi-cylindrical, external contour, terminating at its forward end" with an inwardly tapering outer face 20. The inner surface of the forward portion of the cradle member I8-is'of right dihedial configuration;- as at 22, to'define a sliding bearing surface, thebearing surface 22-extending'from the forward end ofithecradle 1816 a point short-of the leading'end-ofme body member tubular'sectionlz. The body memberlll is removably supported by abracket 24 which is carried by a suitable, universally adjustable mount of any well known construction. g

The barrel member14'has its forward end force'fit-into the'trailing endof the body member tubular section{ 1 2 and has' a smooth outer surface of circular cross section having a longitudinally extending, linear scale- 26- pressed therein; The forward end of the barreli14 is provided withia wall 28 having a smooth,-bored, coaxial; circular aperture 30 formed therein defining a slide-bear ing, and the trailingend" of the" barrel member 14 is-pm vided with a heavy wall 32 having a: coaxial tapped bore" 34'.

A-drivenspindle SScf'square, transverse crosssection having a flattened upper. corner 4ll'slidably registers with the dihedral bearing surface 22.. Theileading end of'the driven spindle38'is provided with a forwardlyprojecting, axial stub 42 which: carries atool chuck or tool 44 such as a probe or the like. An axial, circular bore- 46 is formed in the trailing end of the driven spindle 38"andr a permanent, cylindrical bar. magnet 48"formed of alnico. V, a magnetic material, ceramic or other suitable'perm'anent magnet is secured'in the bore 46 and'has a portion pro+ jecting rearwardlyof the bore, the trailing. end face 49 of the magnet 48 being flat and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle 38.

In order to retain the driven spindle 38 in-slidable registry with the dihedral bearing surface 22 with a minimum of friction, there is provided a longitudinally extending saddle member 50'including a bridge portion 52 and'depending legs-'54 which rest upon the upwardly directed walls: of the support frame forward section 18 and is secured in position bymeans of bolts 56' extending through. openings. formed in the legs 54 and engaging corresponding tapped bores formed in-the support frame section 18-.- A longitudinally extending, upwardlybowied leaf spring 58'nests in the'saddle. member 50 andcarries at its midpoint an upwardly projecting pin 60 slidably registering with a vertical bore 63 formed in thesa'ddle bridgerportion-S'2. The front and' trailing ends of: the leaf spring 58 areprovided with yoke-portions havinglegs 64, the termini of which support transversely extending axles .65; Mounted oneach of the axles 65 is a cylindrical-.rollen 66: which bears up'on'the upper flatsinface'r40 of the: driven spindle 38 to resiliently maintain'thelower surface thereof in sliding engagement with the dihedral bearing surface 22.

A drive spindle 67 includes a forwardly directed, smooth surfaced, cylindrical shank 68 which slidably registers with the barrel bore 30 and a rearwardly directed, threaded shank 69 which engages the tapped bore 34. The drive spindle leading shank 68 is formed of a magnetic material such as steel or the like and terminates in a flat face 70 parallel to the trailing flat face 49 of the 3 magnet 48 and perpendicular to the axis of the drive spindle 67.

A thimble 71 rotatably and slidably registers with the outer surface of the barrel 14 and includes a trailing end wall 72 provided with a tapped, axial aperture 73 engaging the trailing portion of the threaded spindle shank 69. An internally and externally threaded lock nut 74 engages the portion of the threaded shank 69 projecting rearwardly of the aperture 73, the end face of the shank 69 being slotted, as at 76, to permit the axial adjustment of the spindle 69 in a well known manner. A cap 77 has an internally threaded surface which engages the external thread formed on the lock nut 74 to complete the assembly. The leading end of the outer face of the thirnble 71 tapers inwardly and forwardly, as at 78, and is provided with a circumferentially extending scale 79. Both the cap 77 and the trailing portion of the thirnble 71 are provided with knurled surfaces 80.

In order to effect a coupling between the drive spindle 67 and the driven spindle 38 in the absence of any significant backlash, torque, lateral movement or Wobble transmission, a coupling sphere 81 having a smooth outer surface and formed of a magnetic material such as hard steel is disposed between and in point contact with the confronting flat faces 49 and 70 of the magnet 48 and the drive spindle shank 68 respectively. The sphere 81 is retained in coupling position solely by reason of the magnetic lines of force established by the magnet 48 through the sphere 81 and to the drive spindle shank 48. As a consequence of the point contact between the coupling sphere 81 and the confronting spindle flat faces 70 and 49 backlash and wobble are eliminated and there is no significant transmission of torque or lateral movement between the spindles 67 and 38.

In employing the improved manipulating device its initial, position is adjusted by way of the universal mount which carries the bracket 24. Linear movement is then imparted to the tool 44 carried at the forward end of the driven spindle 38 by rotating the thimble 71 which rotates spindle 67 to advance or retard the spindle 67 along the threaded bore 34. None of this rotational movement or the resulting torque is imparted to the driven spindle 38, the only motion imparted thereto being linear and axial. The amount of linear movement of the spindle 38 may be read from the scales 26 and 79 respectively.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An improved manipulating device comprising a body member, a longitudinally movable drive spindle mounted in said body member having a leading flat surface, a longitudinally movable driven spindle linearly slidably mounted in said body member and having a trailing flat surface confronting and substantially parallel to the leading flat surface of said drive spindle, a coupling sphere of magnetic material disposed between said fiat surfaces, in substantially point contact therewith and laterally movable along said confronting fiat surfaces, at least one of said spindles having means for establishing a magnetic field through said spindles and coupling sphere to maintain said sphere in positive contact with said confronting spindle surfaces.

2. An improved manipulating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said magnetic means includes a permanent magnet carried by one of said spindles.

3. An improved manipulating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said spindles includes an elongated member having a socket formed in an end thereof and said means includes a permanent magnet registering with said socket and having a planar free end defining one of said flat surfaces.

4. An improved manipulating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said driven spindle carries a tool at its free end.

5. An improved manipulating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body member has formed at its leading end a longitudinally extending angularly shaped bearing surface and said driven spindle has a longitudinally extending dihedral surface slidably engaging said bearing surface.

6. An improved manipulating device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said driven spindle is of substantially square transverse cross section.

7. An improved manipulating device in accordance with claim 5, including spring means resiliently urging said spindle transversely into snug engagement with said bearing surface.

8. An improved manipulating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drive spindle is provided with a threaded shank and including a relatively stationary internally threaded element axially carried by said body member and engaging said threaded shank whereby rotation of said drive spindle effects linear movement thereof along said body members.

9. An improved manipulating device in accordance with claim 8, including means indicating the amount of linear movement of said spindles.

10. An improved manipulating device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said indicating means comprise a linearly extending scale marked on the outer surface of said body member, a sleeve slidably engaging said body member and secured to and rotatable with said drive spindle, said sleeve member being provided with circumferentially extending vernier marking along its leading edge.

11. In a device for transmitting precisely measured linear motion, a rotaryand linearly-movable drive member having a leading flat surface, a linearly movable driven member having a trailing flat surface confronting and parallel to the leading fiat surface of said drive member, a coupling sphere of magnetic material disposed and laterally movable between and in point contact with said confronting flat surfaces, magnetic means maintaining said sphere in positive continuous contact with both of said fiat surfaces, rotary movmeent of the drive member producing controlled linear movement thereof and transmitting torque-, backlashand wobble-free corresponding linear movement of the driven member.

12. A coupling device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said magnet means is defined by a permanent magnet carried by one. of said members.

13. A coupling device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said permanent magnet has a planar free end defining one of said flat surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,638,366 Sandoz Aug. 9, 1927 2,422,611 Becker et a1 June 17, 1927 2,636,278 Krause Apr. 28, 1953 

